Draped garment with pockets

ABSTRACT

A garment ( 2 ) to be worn by a person has: a single continuous fabric material that comprises two end panels ( 4, 6 ); two shoulder overlay sections  10  to fit over two shoulders of a person; a minor back portion  12  to lay between the shoulders of the person; at least one fastener 14 that is separable between panels ( 4, 6 ); and each panel ( 4, 6 ) has at least one pocket opening ( 20 ) and pocket depth ( 22 ), the pocket depth ( 22 ) being at least 20 cm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of apparel, especially apparel with functionality as well as decorative appearance and a wide range of functionality.

2. Background of the Art

Garments and apparel have extended their use from initial covering bodies for modesty sake and against weather, to more functional garments and decorative garments. They have also been used as uniforms to identify professions and as work garments and even protective gear.

Apparel has embodied many different designs and functions over millennia, yet there are still improvements to be made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A garment is worn over the upper body, with a head opening, front closure and minimal behind the neck coverage, no underarm material, no behind the back ties or fabric (below the shoulder blades) and there are required front pockets. The front fabric material extends at least to the waist and seldom below the knees, and the back fabric extends behind the neck but above the bottom of the shoulder blades or even above the middle or above the top of the shoulder blades. Pockets on the garment may extend at least 50% of the width of each of two front panels on the garment or at least 70% or more of the garment panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional garment according to technology described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A garment is worn over the upper body, with a head opening, front closure elements, two front panels of material and minimal behind the neck coverage. There may be no underarm material restricting movement about the shoulders except for possible minimal support of the fabric at least 5 cm below the underarm when the arms are fully extended. The garment should otherwise be completely worn by putting the garment around the neck without having to slip it over the wearer's head without having to slide the hands and arms through holes or openings in the fabric. The garment may be draped around the neck without having the wearer's head pressed through a head opening (unless front closures are closed) and then closed on the front of the garment.

There is no need for behind the back ties or fabric (e.g., below the bottom of the shoulder blades) to support the garment. There are at least two front pockets, at least one on each of the two front panels. The front fabric material extends at least to the waist and seldom below the knees and preferably between the waist and above the knees.

There is a major front component to the garment and a minor back component. Reference to the Figures will assist in better explaining the design and function of the technology.

FIG. 1 shows a garment 2 according to the present description. The front component comprises two panels 4 and 6 that extend from the shoulders to below the waist and above the knees. The garment forms a comfortable opening 8 for the head to penetrate and the back fabric extends in a slight panel 12 that rounds over the shoulders as portion 10 behind the neck but above the bottom of the shoulder blades or even above the middle or above the top of the shoulder blades. Pockets 20 on each panel of the panels 4 and 6 of the garment may extend at least 50% of the width of each of two front panels on the garment or at least 70% or more of the garment panels, up to 95% of the width of each panel 4 and 6.

Panel connectors 16 cross over the gap 18 between panels 4 and 6. The connectors 14 are shown as straps with buttons 16, but any other format of connector may be used such as Velcro® fasteners, LockTite™ fasteners, snaps, hook and eye systems, string ties, string loop and button systems and the like. The gap 18 is shown with potentially exaggerated space between the panels 4 and 6, but may (and preferably do) abut each other, be beveled to edge abut, or overlap.

The upper portions 24 of the panels 4 and 6 may be shaped (e.g., fit for different body shapes) so that the design is more aesthetic or stylish, and the shoulder overlap 10 may also be cut or styled for drape, fit and appearance. As noted before, the Back portion 12 need not be and preferably isn't secured by any bridging connector to form an arm hole, but detachable bridging connectors may be used to reduce any flapping of the back portion 12. An attachable connector could be used, as with the front connectors 14 shown and discussed. FIG. 1 shows a bridging connector comprising an extension element 30 (which may be rigid as with a bar or pin) or flexible (e.g., braid, cable, wire, strap, string, cord etc.) with a hook, button, loop or snap or other bridging element that can connect to an anchor point of anchor connector 34.

The pockets 20 are more than decorative elements, but should be structurally sound and deep. The pockets 20 have been heretofore referenced by the entrance 20 to the pockets, but the depth of the pockets should be substantive, such as at least 20 cm deep, preferably from 20-40 cm, and 20-35 cm in depth. The pockets' edges 20 are shown as horizontal, but may be slanted as may the pocket angling through the panels 4 and 6. The pockets may be lined and have smaller pockets therein as for key storage, and even tool storage (e.g., pliers, hammer, nails, clippers and the like).

The fabric used for the garment may vary over wide ranges of functionality and appearance. The material may be any type of fabric used in commercial or specialty apparel, especially as outer covering materials. This may range from silk surfaces with fill present for bulk, to canvas, denim, or work type materials, including rubberized or polymer coated materials (as stain prevention, flame proofing, spill proofing, electrically insulating and the like). Natural (e.g., cotton, wool, hair, down and the like) and synthetic (e.g., polyester, nylon, rayon, polyolefin, polyurethane, ceramic filament and the like) materials may be used as exterior, lining or fill materials. Combinations, layers, mixtures and blends may be used in the construction and design of the garment.

The overall shaping may be adjusted for appearance and function, such as rounding the portion of the head opening 8 so that a straight edge of fabric does not lie adjacent to the neck of the wearer, indentation of the shoulder covering 10 or extension of the shoulder covering 10 to prevent the edge from rubbing against the patient or undergarments.

There are no requirements for apron strings about the head and/or waist ties, among the most apparent differences from the common apron, which is not known to have separate fastenable and separable front panels. The panels are substantially symmetrical (panel to panel in dimensions) for ease of manufacture their edges may be somewhat parallel within each panel and therefore with respect to each other. Bottom edges of the panels 4 and 6 may be straight or fluted or ornate.

The technology described herein may be generally described as a garment (2) to be worn by a person comprising: a single continuous fabric material that comprises two end panels (4, 6); two shoulder overlay sections 10 to fit over two shoulders of a person; a minor back portion 12 to lay between the shoulders of the person; at least one fastener 14 that is separable between panels (4, 6); and each panel (4, 6) has at least one pocket opening (20) and pocket depth (22), the pocket depth (22) being at least 20 cm. The garment (2) may have each panel (4, 6) designed to extend below a waist of the person and to the knees of the patient. The garment (2) may have panel (4, 6) is from about 0.9 m to about 1.7 m in length. The garment (2) may have each panel (4, 6) pocket depth (22) is between 20 and 40 cm. The minor back portion may be less than about 20 cm but greater than about 10 cm in width. The garment (2) may have the at least one fastener (14) comprises two or three or four or more fasteners (14).

These and other variations in the design and structure and materials in the garment may be used within the skill of the ordinary artisan. 

1. A garment (2) to be worn by a person comprising: a single continuous fabric material that comprises two end panels (4, 6); two shoulder overlay sections 10 to fit between two shoulders of a person; a minor back portion 12 to lay only between the shoulders of the person; at least one fastener 14 that is separable between panels (4, 6); and each panel (4, 6) has at least one pocket opening (20) and pocket depth (22), the pocket depth (22) being at least 20 cm.
 2. The garment (2) of claim 1 wherein each panel (4, 6) is designed to extend below a waist of the person and to the knees of the person.
 3. The garment (2) of claim 1 wherein each panel (4, 6) is from 0.9 m to 1.7 m in length and are rectangular.
 4. The garment (2) of claim 1 wherein each panel (4, 6) pocket depth (22) is between 20 and 40 cm and the minor back portion is less than 20 cm and greater than 10 cm in width.
 5. The garment (2) of claim 1 wherein the minor back portion is less than 20 cm but greater than 10 cm in width.
 6. The garment (2) of claim 3 wherein the at least one fastener (14) comprises two or three fasteners (14).
 7. The garment (2) of claim 4 wherein the at least one fastener (14) comprises two or three fasteners (14).
 8. (canceled)
 9. The garment (2) of claim 5 wherein the at least one fastener (14) comprises two or three fasteners (14). 